Latest news with #SimonandSchuster
The Hindu
4 days ago
- General
- The Hindu
Malayalam writer Benyamin: Our scriptures have a lot to tell us
'All religious scriptures have something to say.' Author Benyamin, who won the JCB Prize for Literature in 2018 for his book, Jasmine Days, adds that this is what inspired him to write the The Second Book of Prophets, translated by Ministhy S and published by Simon and Schuster. The original, Pravachakanmarude Randaam Pusthakam (Malayalam) was published in 2007. The book delves into the 1940s-50s discoveries of the Dead Sea Scrolls (a collection of ancient Jewish manuscripts discovered in 11 caves near the ruins of Qumran, on the northern shore of the Dead Sea) and the Nag Hammadi Library (a collection of over 50 early Christian and Gnostic texts discovered in Upper Egypt near the town of Nag Hammadi in 1945). Born into Christianity, Benny Daniel from Pathanamthitta, Kerala, grew up reading the Bible. 'When you read it as a religious text, you don't notice the characters or attempt to understand them. But, when one reads it as an academic text, you notice them, maybe think of their back stories,' he says. 'Bearing in mind that the Bible has been interpreted in several ways, with this reinterpretation, I hope, the reader is able to find new meaning and understanding of the scripture,' says Benyamin, a former NRI (non-residential Indian) or a pravasi as he likes to call himself. Growing up in a fairly conservative Christian household, he was expected to go to church every Sunday and pray every day. Nonetheless, Benyamin always viewed the religious text with an objective eye. 'The more you read, the stronger your base; the different themes and layers within the scriptures have a lot to tell,' he says. His 2008 Malayalam-language novel Aadujeevitham, was published by Green Books Private Limited, Thrissur. The book won him recognition in the form of bagging the Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for novel in 2009. It was translated into English and German in 2012, and later to Arabic in 2014. In 2024, it was adapted into a Malayalam-language biographical survival drama film, titled The Goat Life, directed, and co-produced by Blessy. Still basking in the success the film, Benyamin says it is simply awe-inspiring to be recognised by readers across regions. If, in the Last Temptation of Christ, Nikos Kazantzakis humanises Christ by showcasing his tryst with various temptations. Benyamin, goes a step further and paints Christ as a revolutionary in The Second Book of Prophets, as someone who stands up to autocracy and class divide. 'Bearing in mind that the Bible has been interpreted in several ways, with this reinterpretation, I hope, the reader is able to find new meaning and understanding of the scripture,' says Benyamin. The incidental writer A mechanical engineer Benyamin Daniel, began his writing journey in 2000, with the publication of a collection of short stories. Benyamin is an incidental writer. His words — whether in Nishabda Sancharangal (Silent Journeys) or Jasmine Days — dig deep into the psyche of a reader. And this is what he hopes his latest work can do too. 'Readers reflect on the struggles that often form within a rebellion — the difference in opinion among the rebels — in this case, among Christ and his disciples, like Lazarus being ratted out, Judas' betrayal of Christ, and the conflict the leader himself faces from within when faced with temptations.' Talking about his style of writing, Benyamin says displacement and migration, whether literal or spiritual, are the themes of his books, because he feels that migration and embarking on a journey, is what life is all about — be it moving for for a job, trade, family. Constant movement has always been a part of man's evolution. 'Displacement is not a new phenomenon. It has been happening since the beginning of human history: war, slavery, natural disasters, and riots have all caused it. One of the main prayers of the Jews in the Old Testament was that they be delivered from exile. Even after reaching their dreamland, they could not experience freedom. The Romans conquered them. When telling the story of the struggle against them, it is natural that the sorrows of displacement will be embedded in it.' Discussing the years he spent in Bahrain as a mechanical engineer Benyamin says. 'I left my home and country and lived in a foreign land for two decades. I have experienced its loneliness, isolation, numbness, and existential problems very well. So, I can go ahead and write about that topic in depth.' 'Understanding the lives and struggles of migrant communities, their politics, circumstance and so on, is a part of studying humans, making us better humans,' Benyamin says. 'Also when we as readers traverse with them (the characters) through the story to his or her destination, whether physical or spiritual, it gives a reader satisfaction, the sated feeling one gets from reading a piece of good literature,' he adds. Each book by the author has been distinct from one another. 'Non-linear writing; that is how I approach putting a book together,' Benyamin says. He says he does not believe in sticking to formulaic writing. 'I don't create a mould and fit my story around it. I have a story in my head — I start by writing what I know about — be it a character or a scene and take it from there,' he says. He compares it to construction of a highway, say from Ernakulam to Thiruvananthapuram. 'The work for the highway can begin from anywhere, maybe Alappuzha, maybe somewhere near Thiruvananthapuram, but as long as there is a plan in place, the project will be done.' The author says that he looks up to Malayalam writers like OV Vijayan, Mohammed Bashir and M Mukundan, and enjoys reading classic and contemporary writers like Orhan Pamuk, Georgi Gospodinov, Nikos Kazantzakis, and Kafka. Speaking of future projects he says, 'I have just completed a novel, which will be published in July. Shelvy (Raj) was an editor and poet who played an important role in the history of Malayalam publishing. The novel is based on his life.' The Second Book of Prophets priced ₹599 is available on Amazon and all major bookstores
7NEWS
6 days ago
- Business
- 7NEWS
Former reality TV and NRL star Luke Bateman divides internet with book deal
Former NRL player turned Bachelor star Luke Bateman has divided the internet after it was revealed he had a book deal with Simon and Schuster. Bateman, who was on the Canberra Raiders list between 2015 and 2019, recently bobbed up on TikTok to excitedly tell the BookTok community that he was now invested in the group and he was there to talk all things books. 'I've loved books my entire life,' he trumpeted loud and proud in his first TikTok video that has now had more than 2 million views. 'Love fantasy ... it's my main go to ... but I've never had anywhere to really talk about it because I'm a male in a blue collar work and from the country.' He also said there were a lot of females in the community who 'love smut and spice'. That video has since had over 2 million views and there were some favourable comments, but things have suddenly turned. He recently told the community that he had signed a two-book deal and that's when questions started to get asked about the 30-year-old Queensland pine cutter. Needless to say, many aspiring writers have tried countless times to get book deals and failed. So, the question clearly was, how did this former NRL player get one? TikTok creator and activist Jeff Kissubi — who goes by the handle @blondejeff and has almost 200,000 followers — led the charge. 'Race and privilege shape who get the shortcuts,' Kissubi said. 'Black and marginalised authors, especially women and gender-diverse creatives, are out here with finished, powerful stories that still get overlooked.' Audra Winter Books was also shocked. 'Let's put this into perspective, shall we?' the account said. 'I have around the same size audience, with a completely written book and series, over 10 years of experience in writing, and a platform built solely around my concept; I struggled for three years to even secure a literary agent. 'This is why I turned against traditional publishing; it's never been truly about the story WRITTEN. There are so many talented and skilled authors from marginalized communities across this app who HAVE put in the effort, who HAVE worked to refine their skills, who HAVE worked to build their platform, and yet this is what publishing prioritizes. Yikes. 'You, as an author with a voice, should be standing up and recognising the flaw in this, if you are truly part of the community on this app with many authors who have actually written and marketed the book getting shadowed by you.' Brisbookblog said: 'I'm confused, lol - how did you get a book deal with no book written???' Another TikTok user said: 'A white man getting a book deal without having written anything? My jaw stayed right where it was.' And another: 'This opportunity is the intersection of white privilege, male privilege, and pretty privilege. Not a reflection of worth.' But there was support for Bateman too. QBD Books Australias said: 'Congratulations Luke! We can't wait to read your debut book!! 👏🤩' Another user said: 'Why the hate? Why is it about race? Why is it about gender? The double standard has got to stop. 'We made him famous. Now we are tearing him down? He did nothing wrong. Right place at the right time. Say congrats and move on! And if the book is good or bad, remember reading is subjective. Congratulations!! I wish you all the best!! This is an insane opportunity!'
The Age
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Age
Looking for your next crime fix? Here are four novels by local authors
The moral centre of the story is Rose, a former British police officer, whose traumatic encounter with domestic abuse early in her career effectively frames the narrative. She's since completed a PhD, written a bestselling book and is volunteering at a refuge while also compiling a report to parliament on this pressing social issue in hopes of changing the legislation for the better. It therefore comes as a shock when Rose is informed out of the blue that her estranged daughter has gone missing with her two small charges while working as a nanny for a wealthy family in Western Australia. Rose's obnoxious ex-husband is immediately on the phone begging her to find the daughter she barely knows. But is it too late for them both? Although our attention is initially on Rose, Foster also introduces the endearing detective, Mal Blackwood. On the cusp of retirement, Blackwood is desperately trying to save his marriage of 38 years, but is unable to resist the lure of a big case: a propensity his long-suffering wife Margie knows only too well. While Blackwood leads the official investigation, Rose follows her own line of inquiry with the two narrative threads converging in an effective, and affecting, dénouement. What lifts this thriller to another pitch are the keen observations of the many family lives upon which it touches. They may be very different but they are similar in their complexity and pain. Carved in Blood Michael Bennett Simon and Schuster, $34.99 The Ladies Road Guide to Utter Ruin Alison Goodman Harper Collins, $34.99 New Zealand writer Michael Bennett is also writing about family life, but from the rather different perspective of former detective senior sergeant Hana Westerman. Hana has recently left the force to return to her home town of Tātā Bay after several bruising cases that feature in the two earlier books in this always compelling award-winning series. Crime series characters often carry a lot of baggage and Hana is no exception, although all you need to know is telegraphed in the opening paragraphs as she faces down a mako shark while swimming in the bay. Although brave and calm under pressure, Hana inevitably has her breaking point. This arrives when her ex-husband, another detective, is gunned down while buying champagne to celebrate their daughter Addison's engagement to her non-binary partner PLUS-1. While this appears to be a random incident, it's anything but. Hana therefore offers her services to the investigating officer, a young female Pasifika detective, who Hana perceives as the kind of much-needed cop who might eventually effect systemic change. Bennett doesn't labour the point while providing telling insights into Māori culture. As Hana watches a group of Māori teenagers who have just passed their driving test chasing her ex-husband's cop car round the rugby oval, her cousin points out that it's 'Nice to see a bunch of Māori kids chasing the cops instead of the other way around'. Ouch. Carved in Blood concludes with the promise of a sequel and a whole lot of new trouble for Hana, whose work is hardly done. Catch up with her soon. Looking for something different again? Then I can suggest nothing better than Alison Goodman's entertaining Regency romp, The Ladies Road Guide to Utter Ruin. If you loved the TV series Bridgerton, then you will love this book, although there is far less sex and a lot more unrequited passion. As a component of her PhD in creative writing, Goodman meticulously researched the period before completing two novels, of which this is the second. Rest assured, while the historical detail is impressive, the author never lets pedantry get in the way of a rollicking good story that also has its more serious side. Loading As in Bridgerton, there's a swag of feminist and political revisionism. Lady Augusta and her twin sister, Julia, are harbouring two women on the run, essentially for their same-sex union. Although this might seem a stretch, Goodman introduces the reader to the true case of the Ladies of Llangollen, two women who flouted convention by setting up a home together in North Wales and who are now considered to be an iconic queer couple. The often testy-with-each-other sisters, Gus and Julia, are also in love despite being considered to be old maids at the venerable age of 40. While Gus has fallen for Lord Evan Belford, who has been framed for murder and is also on the run, Julia is enamoured of a Bow Street Runner, a man considered far beneath her in social stature. The pair are also exceptional sleuths, largely because of their cultural invisibility as older women. Although the adventure that ensues may be less of a road guide and more of cautionary tale in which Gus breaks every imaginable rule to save her lover, there's rather more to The Ladies Road Guide to Utter Ruin than romance.
Sydney Morning Herald
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Sydney Morning Herald
Looking for your next crime fix? Here are four novels by local authors
The moral centre of the story is Rose, a former British police officer, whose traumatic encounter with domestic abuse early in her career effectively frames the narrative. She's since completed a PhD, written a bestselling book and is volunteering at a refuge while also compiling a report to parliament on this pressing social issue in hopes of changing the legislation for the better. It therefore comes as a shock when Rose is informed out of the blue that her estranged daughter has gone missing with her two small charges while working as a nanny for a wealthy family in Western Australia. Rose's obnoxious ex-husband is immediately on the phone begging her to find the daughter she barely knows. But is it too late for them both? Although our attention is initially on Rose, Foster also introduces the endearing detective, Mal Blackwood. On the cusp of retirement, Blackwood is desperately trying to save his marriage of 38 years, but is unable to resist the lure of a big case: a propensity his long-suffering wife Margie knows only too well. While Blackwood leads the official investigation, Rose follows her own line of inquiry with the two narrative threads converging in an effective, and affecting, dénouement. What lifts this thriller to another pitch are the keen observations of the many family lives upon which it touches. They may be very different but they are similar in their complexity and pain. Carved in Blood Michael Bennett Simon and Schuster, $34.99 The Ladies Road Guide to Utter Ruin Alison Goodman Harper Collins, $34.99 New Zealand writer Michael Bennett is also writing about family life, but from the rather different perspective of former detective senior sergeant Hana Westerman. Hana has recently left the force to return to her home town of Tātā Bay after several bruising cases that feature in the two earlier books in this always compelling award-winning series. Crime series characters often carry a lot of baggage and Hana is no exception, although all you need to know is telegraphed in the opening paragraphs as she faces down a mako shark while swimming in the bay. Although brave and calm under pressure, Hana inevitably has her breaking point. This arrives when her ex-husband, another detective, is gunned down while buying champagne to celebrate their daughter Addison's engagement to her non-binary partner PLUS-1. While this appears to be a random incident, it's anything but. Hana therefore offers her services to the investigating officer, a young female Pasifika detective, who Hana perceives as the kind of much-needed cop who might eventually effect systemic change. Bennett doesn't labour the point while providing telling insights into Māori culture. As Hana watches a group of Māori teenagers who have just passed their driving test chasing her ex-husband's cop car round the rugby oval, her cousin points out that it's 'Nice to see a bunch of Māori kids chasing the cops instead of the other way around'. Ouch. Carved in Blood concludes with the promise of a sequel and a whole lot of new trouble for Hana, whose work is hardly done. Catch up with her soon. Looking for something different again? Then I can suggest nothing better than Alison Goodman's entertaining Regency romp, The Ladies Road Guide to Utter Ruin. If you loved the TV series Bridgerton, then you will love this book, although there is far less sex and a lot more unrequited passion. As a component of her PhD in creative writing, Goodman meticulously researched the period before completing two novels, of which this is the second. Rest assured, while the historical detail is impressive, the author never lets pedantry get in the way of a rollicking good story that also has its more serious side. Loading As in Bridgerton, there's a swag of feminist and political revisionism. Lady Augusta and her twin sister, Julia, are harbouring two women on the run, essentially for their same-sex union. Although this might seem a stretch, Goodman introduces the reader to the true case of the Ladies of Llangollen, two women who flouted convention by setting up a home together in North Wales and who are now considered to be an iconic queer couple. The often testy-with-each-other sisters, Gus and Julia, are also in love despite being considered to be old maids at the venerable age of 40. While Gus has fallen for Lord Evan Belford, who has been framed for murder and is also on the run, Julia is enamoured of a Bow Street Runner, a man considered far beneath her in social stature. The pair are also exceptional sleuths, largely because of their cultural invisibility as older women. Although the adventure that ensues may be less of a road guide and more of cautionary tale in which Gus breaks every imaginable rule to save her lover, there's rather more to The Ladies Road Guide to Utter Ruin than romance.
Hamilton Spectator
25-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Hamilton Spectator
Is the rise of TikTok self-help actually helping us?
Forget movies , music or fashion : If you want to understand a generation, look to its self-help . The massively bestselling 'How To Win Friends and Influence People,' published in 1936, peddled corporate-style people-pleasing tactics to those terrified of losing their jobs or desperate to get one at the height of the Great Depression. In 1992, 'Men Are From Mars, Women Are From Venus' offered a (flawed) sense of order to a world trying to navigate gender politics in a post-sexual revolution, pre-Girl Power feminism era. 'The Secret,' which popularized manifestation as a cheat code to prosperity and abundance, had us chanting 'ask, believe, receive' as the 2008 financial crisis dissolved faith in traditional mechanisms for a comfortable life. A decade later, 'The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck' sold like hotcakes, speaking to our collective disillusionment with the toxic positivity of the 'Lean In' self-help era — just try harder, be more assertive; never mind those structural inequalities holding you back — that came shortly before. The self-help of today has just as much to say about our world now. Born-and-bred in the viral petri dish of TikTok, it's delivered to its audience in that most 2025 of postures: Staring at a screen and scrolling, scrolling, scrolling, blurring the line between access to information and total overwhelm. It's also typical of our 'everything old is new again' era, where existing ideas are rebranded in the same way that 'Latte Girl makeup' is basically the Nineties fad for tonal brown everything. One very popular example of this is the viral self-help concept 'shadow work.' It has its roots in founding analytical psychologist Carl Jung's notion of 'the shadow self,' which is that often unexplored part of our consciousness where our deepest feelings reside. Content creator Keila Shaheen — who was dubbed 'the new empress of self-help' by the Atlantic — helped popularize it on TikTok, which propelled her self-published book on the topic, 'The Shadow Work Journal.' This spring, Simon and Schuster published her guide to unlocking 'the true you,' 'The Book of Shadow Work.' 'The first book was my passion project. I was going through a really dark night of the soul, and I had a lot of low moments,' said Shaheen, a Texan behavioural therapy practitioner, certified sound healer and founder of the 'self-discovery' app Zenfulnote. 'The one thing that helped me get through that was doing my own form of shadow work.' This took the form of journaling, she said, 'diving into my psyche and branching out from what was on the surface of my mind, and really digging deep.' She felt called to 'alchemize' this work and share it with others. 'I was already on TikTok and couldn't get enough of it. So, I started speaking about it and talking about my own personal journey and then sharing this concept of shadow work that isn't often surfaced in schools and institutions,' said Shaheen. 'That sparked a snowball effect of other creators being curious, and their followers being curious. It was very grassroots. TikTok was my own safe space, and it sprouted from there.' Shaheen thinks this particular concept has resonated because it pairs the practice of journaling with question-based prompts. 'Vocalizing our pain and trauma can be very difficult. We innately want to keep it inside. The mere act of pen and paper writing is transformative for people.' This analog practice — which has ironically found so much traction online — can help the writer enter a 'flow state' where deep feelings can emerge, Shaheen said. 'People would have this experience of looking back and realizing, 'I didn't know that was in there.'' She describes comments from people who said they have been in therapy for years and couldn't reach the same insights they found within 20 pages of the journal. 'It all resides in you,' said Shaheen. 'You need to find those ways that work best for you to pull it out and come face to face with it.' 'There's so much chaos going on in the world right now. I think a lot of people are yearning for growth, meaning and connection.' It's notable that shadow work, which turns our gaze inward, is having a moment when we are bombarded with endless external information and unsolicited opinions. 'There's so much chaos going on in the world right now. I think a lot of people are yearning for growth, meaning and connection,' said Shaheen. 'We're looking for ways to tend to and nurture ourselves.' The impulse to create meaning in a chaotic world is echoed in many self-help strategies often served up on FYPs. There's 'Lucky girl syndrome,' which encourages us to behave as if we live in a universe that bends towards us kindly, sort of like 'fake it till you make it' mixed with 'perception is reality.' Then there's the enduring popularity of therapy-adjacent astrology, which has spawned endless gurus with their guides to surviving this retrograde or making the most of that eclipse. This lives at the other end of the personal agency spectrum, where we're all just riding the waves of foreordained cosmic movements; there is comfort to be found in hearing that what feels endless roller-coaster of upheaval is just the planets doing their thing. It's not unusual for people to pull out a TikTok video during a therapy session and say that it describes them so well, said Toronto qualifying registered psychotherapist Madison Furgiuele. 'My clients are regularly citing TikToks. I get a lot of clients talking about 'eldest daughter syndrome,' for example,' says Furgiuele, who also has a following online as @mentalhealthwithmaddy. 'In that sense, it's a really great tool because it's describing things that people aren't necessarily able to name themselves. It helps me get a better understanding of their perspective, and what they're going through.' But Furgiuele does have some reservations about social media self-help. Namely, 'people thinking they have every problem,' or identifying with every single video served to them. 'There's a lot of self-diagnosing,' she said. 'I have to remind people that just because you don't like wearing socks, it doesn't mean you have autism. There is misinformation that is spread.' Lucky Girl Syndrome, for example, is the kind of viral self-help that gives Furgiuele pause. 'If you're working with a client that is not very well off, is really struggling in life or has had a lot of very adverse experiences, the last thing they're going to want to hear is something about Lucky Girl Syndrome — because they're not lucky,' she said. The same goes for posts that insist you should trust your gut; your gut knows best. 'Try telling that to someone with anxiety. That's the worst thing you could say to them,' she said. 'There's a time and a place for it, and there are certain people where that is so helpful for them. Therapy is not a one size fits all, and it's the same thing with TikTok. You've got to take what works for you and leave everything else.' A post shared by Madison Furgiuele Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying) (@mentalhealthwithmaddy) The self-help that's resonating now helps us feel understood by categorizing and classifying how we feel. 'People are looking for answers: 'That's why I do this,' or 'That's why I am the way I am,'' Furgiuele said. She cites the success of a viral TikTok video in which she asked, 'To the kids who were told they were a pleasure in class, How's therapy going?' People loved it, she said, because it reflected what they thought was a unique experience back to them. But when the algorithm is geared to show you more of what you pay attention to, you can get caught in an endless scroll of self-help that may do more harm than good. 'I saw this quote — yes, on TikTok — that said, 'You're not a self-improvement project,'' said Furgiuele, who often cautions clients that there is more to their life than the pursuit of self-optimization. 'Yes, you want to work on yourself, be the best version of you, but you don't have to do it all the time. It's OK to just be a human.'
